Night latch



April 14, 1942. .r-z K.YHEYER NIGHT LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l0, 1939 Y INVENTOR f@ `4|.. aff. #ejer ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED STATES .PATENToF-FICE -IGHT LATCH` Frederic K. Heyer, Stamford, Conn., assignor to The Yale & v'.lowne Manufacturing Company, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 1o, 1999,l serial No.2s939 1e claims. (01.292-335) This invention relates to a night latch of the type disclosed and claimed in the Brinton Patent No. 2,136,539, dated. November 15, 1938, and assigned to The Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, the owner of this application. y

As is set forth in the Brinton patent, night latches are equipped with latch bolts which must be maintained retracted until the closure or door to which the night latch is attached, is moved into open position, or to a position in which the latch bolt is no longer aligned with the strike.

Brinton discloses means whereby once the latch bolt is retracted, it ismaintained retracted, even though it remains in alignment with the strike. Upon movement relatively to the strike,

as when the door is opened, the latch bolt" is released from its holding means and. is projected in readiness for reentry into the strike when the door is once again closed. As to actual structure, Brinton utilizes an auxiliary bolt which is projected against the strike, but is held from entry into the usual strike aperture, only the main latch bolt being allowed to enter the strike aperture. When the door is opened, the auxiliary bolt is no longer held retracted by the strike,

and is allowed to be projected by its spring. As it is so projected, it releases the latch bolt from its holding means,allowing the latch bolt to be projected. Y

Before describing in detail a preferred form of my invention, it will befhelpful to describe generally the features and advantages thereof. In the night latch of my invention, I utilize an auxiliary bolt which is adapted to engage and even preferably, to enter the -strike together with the main latch bolt, rather than to be held back by the strike when the closure or door is in closed position. Because'of this construction, I can use a relatively large aperture in my strike, which makes it possible for the latch bolt and auxiliary bolt to engagethe strike properly when a door sags or moves into varying positions due to shrinkage and expansion of timbers, a condition which is frequent in the average home in which night latches are used.

-I utilize holding means to hold the latch bolt retracted once it is retracted, and I provide the auxiliary bolt with means forreleasing the latch bolt from the holding means when the auxiliary bolt is retracted. The auxiliary bolt is cammed backwardly or retracted relatively to the strike by the movement of the closure or door intov open position, once the latch bolt is retracted, the strike preferably serving to do this throughits coaction with a cam surface n 'the auxiliary similar to Fig.`1 of a night latchhavinga different form of holding mechanism and equipped with deadlocking means and an auxiliary-bolt to bolt. When so retracted, the auxiliary bolt vreleases the latch bolt for projection. Y Y

It will be appreciated thatfthe latch bolt of v' my night latch is held'fbac'k when retracted byV the usual manually operated means, evenwith the door or closure in open position, since in open .f

position the auxiliarybolt is fully projected. I therefore provide suitable cam surfaces whereby the strike c-amsfback or retracts the auxiliary bolt wheny the door ismoved into closed position. This movement of vthe auxiliary bolt will;- of course, release the latch bolt forprojection.

As a further feature of my night latch, I havek arranged to deadlockthe flatch bolt when it is projected upon theV closing of the door.

movement of the door, the auxiliary boltA releases the latch vbolt for projection, and the latchbolt is projected. When the door is'closedfagain,-the

latch bolt is rst retracted upon contactingthe strikareleasing certain limit means yso that when the latch bolt then moves into the strike aperture,4

it may be projected into deadlocking position.

As still a further feature of my invention-,1" employ means capable of maintaining my latchbolt retracted at all times. I `can then'utiliae my auxiliary bolt, which in its preferredform is double beveled as already indicated, for yielding# 1 ly resisting the opening and closing of the door or closure. This feature I find to be a valuable contribution of my night latch. I i Y As a sub-combination of my invention, I shall 'I claim my means for holding the latch boltretracted when it is retracted by the usual manu` ally operated means. 'Ihe holding means take` the form of a lever pivotedi'on the latch bolt`it self, andcooperable with a lug cast integrally' with the night latch casing.v

I shall now refer to the drawings'wherein la preferred form of 'my inventions shown. In the drawings, Fig.' 1 isv a ,section through one form of my invention in which one type of holding means is disclosedfor holding"the latch bolt retracted when it is retracted Yby the manually f' operated cam mechanism. f `Iig.2 is a View look ing at the night latch of', Fig. 1, with the rear along lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the back plate of the night latch inposition. Fig. 5 is a view The,v operation is as follows: .The usual manual means are used to retract the latch bolt. Upon opening i Fig. 10 is a section taken along lines Ill-I0 of l Fig. '7 illustrating how the latch bolt is held'` back by the usual button mechanism, leaving the" auxiliary bolt free to resistv the opening and closing of the door. Fig. l1 is aviewtakenj along lines II-II of Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly lto the drawings, and more especially to Eigsl'l-l inclusive,

I show there a night latch casing I secured by suitable screws II to a door I2 cooperable with a door jamb |3011` whichiissupported a 'strike I4. A cylinder-lock`|`5 is operable Vin the usual way to rotate vafcarnglsecured on the back platej lil of ther night-*latch-for rotating the rollbackfpin I8` secured for operation by the usual knurledv knob I9. Itis obvious that operation of the cylinder lock I5 or the knurledknob I9 will rota-te pin I8, which ini turn retraets Athe latch' bolt- 2U, as will now be described.`

The latch bolt 20 is secured to what is termed a tailjplate 2I` which is spring pressed by a. spring 22 into the'position of Figs. 1 and 2. The tail plate 2|k is. equippedwit-h .a 'slot 23 in which operates the rollback pin I8.,A When the pin I8 is in the positionof Fig. 2, itisopposite a lug 24 on the tail .plate 2|,` and prevents the retraction of the bolt by pressure againstzthe bolt headV 20, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

When the retracting pin I8 ismoved from its full line position ofl Fig. 2 to its dotted line position of Fig. 2, it will .move out of deadlocking relation to the latch bolt tail, as is readily unit isv held retracted by Acertain, nove1 holding..

mechanism. Preferably, also, the lsame'holding mechanism holds the latch bjolt-,retracting mechanism, including the pin I8,fin its retracted position of Fig., 3. For obtaining this action, there isv mounted on the bolt tail plate 2| `a holding lever 25. The lever 25v is carried bythe pin 26 on the tail plate 2I', and is spring..pressed by spring 21 for cooperation with the tail plate guide lug 28 cast integrally with the casing I0.

It is readily seen that when thev latch bolt is retracted'to tspositionV of Fig.r,3 they-notch 29 of lever 25 will cooperate with the lug 28 for locking thelatch bolt against outward movement by pressure of itsspring. 22. At the'same time, the surface 30. of theholdng lever V25a-will cooperate with the pin I8-to hold the said pin in its position of Fig.v 3. It is obvious, of course, that movement of the pin` I 8 by rotation ofthe knurled knoblS, or rby operation ofthe cylinder lock, willreadily move thelever '25- so as to move the notch 29 thereof out ofcooperation with. the'lug 28 i' the casingv III, releasing the-latch bojltfor projection to the position. ofFg. 2. When fully projected, the'bolt 'maylbedeadlocked by move-A ment' of the pin `I8ffron1 Vthe..dottedfline position of Fig. 2 to the .fulllineposition cf-Fig. 2.

In Fig. 4, I show the back plate I1 of the night latch casing I0 resting against and secured to the guide lugs 28. 'Ihe guide lugs 28 therefore have the triple function of guiding the latch bolt tail .plate 2|, cooperating with the holding lever 25 to hold the latch bolt retracted, and supporting the night latch back plate I'I.

Referring now to the construction of Figs. 5-11., inclusive, I show a latch'bolt casing 3l secured by suitable screws 32 to a door 33 cooperable with a jamb 34 which carries a strike 35.

The latch bolt 36 is of the same construction ,asthat of Fig. 2, and is similarly projected and similarly retracted by a pin 31 operated by the l'nv the'position of the parts in Fig. 6, the pin .31is indeadlocking relation to the lug 40 of the bolt tail plate 4I. The holding lever employed in the modication now described is designated by referencey numeral 42, andispivoted at v43 to thebolt tail plate-digits notched portion 44 being ,cooperable with the lug-45 castintegrally with. `the casingl 3l'. A springl 46 having one end vpressi-ng at 4l against a pin on the bolt tail plateV 4I, tends' to press the lever l42 in a clockwise direction in. the several Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, and toward the lug '45.

y When therollback pin 3'I. is rotated from the position of Fig-6to the position of Fig. 7, it acts to retract the bolt 36, and to bring the portion 44 of the holding lever v42` behind `lug 45, so that thereafter the latch boltr 3B will be held retracted. It is interesting to note that the tail plate 4Iv of they latchv bolt is equipped with a surface 48 Vfor maintain-ing the pin3`| in its positionof Fig. 7. In essence, this surface 48 accomplishes the sameresult asl does the surface 30 of the holding lever 25 in the modification shown l3. n g

. An auxiliary bolt 49jis mounted and suitably guided in the casing 33, and preferably has one surface thereof in contact with the latchl bolt 35 for sliding relatively to that latch bolt. A spring 5I) serves to maintain the auxiliary bolt projected. With the auxiliary bolt projected, as shown inFigs. 5 and 6,. should the latch bolt 36 be retracted as shownvin Fig. A'7 through rotation of thumb turn 38, the cam surface 5I of the-holding lever 42 will move` just under the cam surface 52 ofthe auxiliary bolt'49. The holding lever will,` of. course, ylock the latch bolt 36 in its Vretracted position-and willv hold it retracted even though the thumb turn 38 is `released from manual pressure.

' ,-If the door 33 be. now opened, it-'will be appreci'ated thatY because the surface 53 of the auxiliary bolt 49 is beveledfthevauXi-liary bolt 49 will be cammed rearwardly, or retracted, by its contact.with. the surfacef54 of the strike 35 (shown in Fig. 5). This` retraction against the force of spring `5I) will naturally causeA the cam surface 52 rof the auxiliary .bolt 49` to contact the carn surface 5I of the holding lever 42, moving the holding lever Vagainst the pressure of its spring 45v out of engagement with the lug 45. The holding. lever being so released lfrom the lug l-l5the bolt 36` will.` naturally be projected to the position of Fig. 8. The bolt 36 will not be so projected, it will be understood, until it actually has movedwith. the door away from the aperture ofthe strike 35.A

I. should now4 like to describe the means Whereby I control. the movementof. the rollback pin 31 'andi the retracting cam 55 on which the pin 31 'is supported. The cam 55 is secured so as to be rotatable integrally with the thumb turn 38;

A coil spring 56 is suitably mounted coaxially with the thumb turn 38, tending always to vrotate the thumb turn and cam 55 counterclockwise in the position of the parts shown in Figs. 6, '1, 8 and 9.

A dog 51 pivoted at 58 to the casing 33 is spring pressed by a, spring 53 into cooperative relation with limit surfaces 60 and 6| lof the cam -5. In the normal relation of the parts, that is, with the door open as in Fig. 8, the dog 51 cooperates with the limit surface 60 limiting the rotation of the cam 55 and of the rollback pin 31 to the position of Fig. 8. Since the pin 31, in Fig. 8, has pressed thereagainst the surface 62 of the latch bolt tail plate 4I, it is obvious that the dog 51 therefore acts through pin 31 and cam 55 to retain and limit the projection of the latch bolt 36 by its spring 63.

If the door is shut with the bolts 36 and 49 in their position of Fig. 8, it is obvious that the strike will serve to retract the bolts only to their position of Fig. 9. This is natural -because in the ordinary mounting of a door, there is some space between the door and the jamb, designated in Figs. 5 and 6 by the letter S. It is obvious that the retraction of the latch bolt 36 to its position of Fig. 9 is not sufcient to bring the holding lever 42 into holding relation with the f' bolt tail piece 4I has contacted the upstanding lug portion 65 of the dog 51, moving the dog out of cooperation with the limit surface 60 of the retracting cam 55. The retracting cam 55 will therefore rotate under the influence of the spring 56 to its position shown in Fig. 9, bringing pin 31 against the stem portion 66 of the latch bolt tail plate 4|.

Now, when the latch bolt moves into align-` ment with the aperture of the strike 35, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it will be fully projected beyond the position of Fig. `8, because its projection is no longer limited by the coaction of the dog 51 with the surface 60 of the retracting cam 55. The latch bolt will therefore move to its position of Fig. 6, and the rollback pin 31 willlikewise move to its position of Fig. 6, its further rotation being prevented by the dog 51 cooperating with limit surface 6l thereof. The retracting cam 55 acts, of course, in its position of Fig. 6, to prevent further projection of the latch bolt 36, while at the same time maintaining the latch bolt deadlocked. n

I believe it best now to describe one complete operation of the night latch shown in Figs. 5-9, inclusive. Starting first with Figs. 6 and 6, we note that there the latch bolt 36 is held projected and deadlocked by rollback pin 31 of the retracting cam 55. vThe auxiliary bolt is also maintained Within the aperture of the strike 35. The further projection of the latch bolt is restrained by said pin 31.

Should someone wish to openv the door or closure, it will merely be necessary to operate the usual cylinder,or rotate the thumb turn 38 in a manner well known in the art. Rotation of the thumb turn 38 will rotate the retracting cam 55 against the pressure of the spring. 56,` causthumb turn 38.

ing the rollback pin 31 to retract the latch-bolt 36 from the position of Fig. 6 `to 'the position of Fig. '1. The holding lever 42 supportedon the tail plate 4I of the latch boltV 36 is, in the posi-r tion of the parts in Fig; 7, .moved kinto cooper-` ation with the lug 45 of, the -casing 33, and thereafter prevents'the 'projection of the latch bolt, even when the hand'is withdrawn from the Thumb turn 38 is maintained in its position of Fig. 7 against the pressure of spring 56 through the cooperationofthe surface 48 of the latch bolt tail plate 4l with the pin 31, all as is readily seen.

With the parts in their position ofy Fig. '1, the door may now be opened. As it is opened, the beveled surface -53 of theauxiliary bolt 49 Will impinge against surface 54 of the strike 35, forcing a rearward movement of .the auxiliary bolt.

The cam surface 52 ofthe auxiliary bolt Will .con-

tact the cam surface 5| of the holding lever 42, moving the holding lever outof cooperationwith the lug 45, thereby releasing the latch bolt for projection. As the latch bolt is. projected, the dog 51 strikes the limit surface 69 of the retracting cam 55, limiting the rotation of the retracting cam to its position of Fig. 8. The parts will now assume the position of Fig.Y 8, wtih the c bolt projected to a normalY latching position.

With the door now open, should it be closed, it is obvious that the latch bolt 36 and auxiliary bolt 49 will be retracted to their position of Fig. 9 by Contact with the strike, further retraction being impossible because of the Space "S between the door 33 and the jamb 34. This retraction of the latch bolt 36 will cause its tail piece surface 64 tomove the dog 51 out of cooperation with the surface 6D of the retracting cam 55, allowing immediate rotation of the retracting cam 55 by its spring 56 to the position of Fig. 9 against the stem 66. As soon as the latch bolt moves into alignment with the strike aperture, it is of course projected to the position of Fig. 6, and the retracting cam 55 assumes its position of Figs. 5 and 6 in clogging relation to the bolt, all as will now be fully appreciated. I

It iswell to note that with the door open and with the latch bolt and auxiliary bolt positioned as shown in Fig. 8, should someone rotate the thumb turn 38, the bolt 36 will-be retracted and held retracted, as shown in Fig. 1. Should the door now be closed, the opposite beveled surface 61 of the auxiliary bolt 49 will contact the strike and the auxiliary bolt will be retracted. When so retracted, it will release the holding ,lever 42, as previously described, allowing the projection of the bolt 36 to its position of Fig. 8. The door will now be closed and locked, but it will not be deadlocked. It is thus seen that my latch bol+u is projected, even should it be inadvertently retracted when the door is open.

My night latch is equipped with the usual thumb button 68 sliding on the front surface oi casing 3l, and having a detent portion 69 cooperable with a llug 1l) formed on the latch bolt tail plate 4|. By manipulation of the button 68, the latch bolt 36 may be held lin its retracted position independently of the fholding lever '42. In this positionV of the parts, it is readily perceived, especially from Fig. 1 0, that the auxiliary bolt 49 resists yieldingly the opening and closing of the door. This action is highly desirable in places where during certain periods it is not necessary to maintain a door locked or securely latched, but where some resistance to the move-l ment of the door to open positionfrom its closed' position, is desirable.

I believe that thezdescription I have thus given of my invention will indicate clearly the-.scopefof the contribution I have made `to the -art. Naturally, I expectto obtain a monopoly sufficiently broad to prevent the* utilization of my contribu tion to the art informs other than the specific forms thereof'which I have herein described.

I now claim:

1. A latch for a hinged structure comprising a spring pressed latch bolt, a casing, manually operated means for retracting saidlatch bolt into the casing to a predetermined position, aspring pressed lever on said latch bolt, a lug on said casing engaged by said lever when said latch bolt is retracted for holding said Alatchrbolt retracted, and a surface ofr said latch bolt acting also-tohold said vmanually operated means in its position reached when said. latch 'bolt is retracted.

2. A latch forV aihinged closurecomprising a spring pressed latchfbolt, a casing, manually operated means for retracting `Lsaid latch bolt, a springpressed lever supported on said latch bolt,

means on said casing engaged by said lever inthe retracted position of said latch bolt for maintaining said latch bolt retracted, an Y auxiliary bolt in said casing normally spring projected and adapted to be retracted when contacting al strike,

and means whereby said auxiliary bolt -when so strike which said latch lbolt and said -auxiliary bolt are adapted toengage, manually operated means for retracting said latch .bolt out of engagement with said strike, holding means -for holding said latch bolt retracted thereafter even while said latch bolt remains in alignment with said strike, means wherebysaid strike cams said auxiliary bolt inwardly relatively to said casing as said closure is Ymoved to open position, and means whereby said inward movement of said auxiliarybolt releases` said latch bolt from said holding means.

4. A latch for a hinged closure comprising a casing, a spring pressed latch both in said casing, aspring projected auxiliary bolt in said casing, a

strike into whichl said latch bolt and said auxiliary bolt are adapted to enter when said bolts are moved into alignment with the strike, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt out of said strike, holding means forholding said latch bolt retracted thereafter even while said latch bolt remains in alignment with said strike, means whereby said strike cams said auxiliary bolt inwardly relatively to said casing as said closureis moved to open position, and 'means whereby said inward movement of said `auxiliary bolt by said strike releases said latch bolt from said holding means and for projection by its spring so as to reenter the strike when said hinged closure is thereafter moved to closed position.

5. A latch for a'hinged closure comprising a casing, a spring pressed latch bolt in said casing, a spring projected auxiliary bolt in said casing, a strike into which said latch bolt and auxiliary bolt are adapted to enter, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt from said strike, a detent for holding said latch bolt retracted thereafter even while said latch bolt remains in alignment with said strike, means whereby said Lstrike cams said. auxiliary bolt 'inwardly relativelyfto said casing assaid closure -is moved to open position, and means whereby said inward Kmovement Vof said auxiliary bolt by said strike releases said latch bolt from said holding lever. Y

6. A latch for a hinged closure comprising a casing, a spring pressed latch bolt in said casing, a spring projected auxiliary bolt in said casing, a strike into which said latch bolt and auxiliary bolt are adapted to enter, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt from said strike, holding means for holding said latch bolt retracted thereafter even .while said latch bolt remains in alignment with said strike, means whereby said strike cams said auxiliary bolt inwar-diy relatively to said casing as said closure is moved to open position, and means whereby said inward movement of said auxiliary bolt releases said latch bolt from said holding means and for projection by its spring so as to reenter the strike when said hinged closure is lthereafter moved to closed position, and means for deadlocking said latch bolt when it is thereafter retracted by said strike and projected into the strike when the closure moves to said closed position.

'7. A latch for a hinged closure `comprising a casing, a spring pressed latch bolt in said casing, a spring projected auxiliary bolt in said casing, a

l strike into which said latch bolt and auxiliary bolt are adapted to enter, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt a predetermined vdegree from saidstrike, holding means for holding said latch bolt retracted thereafter even l while said latch bolt remains in alignment `with said strike, means whereby said strike cams said auxiliary bolt inwardly relatively to said casing as said closure is moved to open position, means whereby said inward movement of the auxiliary bolt releases said latch bolt from said holding means and vfor projection by its spring in position to contact the strike when the closure is shut, the contactof said latch bolt with the strike upon closing movement of the closure camming the latch bolt rearwardly but not suciently to move said latch bolt said predetermined degree, and means for automatically deadlocking said latch bolt when it is thereafter projected into the strike as the closure moves into its closed position.

8. A latch for a hinged closure comprising a casing, a spring pressed latch bolt in said casing, a spring pressed auxiliary bolt in said casing, a strike into which said latch bolt and said auxiliary bolt are adapted to enter when said bolts are moved into alignment with the strike, cam surfaces on said auxiliary -bolt whereby contact of saidauxiliary bolt with said strike upon closing and also upon opening of the doorretracts said auxiliary boltagainst the pressure of its spring, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt, holding means for holding said latch bolt retracted thereafter, and means Ywhereby the auxiliary bolt when retracted by contact with said strike lreleases said latch bolt fromY said holding means.

9. A latch for va hinge closure comprising a spring latch bolt adapted to interlock with a strike when aligned therewith', manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt, holding means for maintaining said latch bolt retracted once it is retracted by said manual means, an auxiliary bolt normally spring pressed for engagement withsaid strike, ya cam surface on one side of said auxiliary bolt whereby it is retracted by saidv strike as said closure is shut, a cam surface on tlie'otlier side of said auxiliary bolt whereby itl is retracted fby" said strike as saidclosure is opened, and means whereby'said "auxiliary bolt when soV retracted by opening or closing ofthe hinged closure releases'said'latch bolt from said holding means. A

y10. A latch for a hinged closure comprising a spring pressed latch bolt adapted to interlock with a strike when aligned therewith, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt, holding means for maintaining said latch bolt retracted once it is retracted by said manual means, an auxiliary bolt normally spring pressed for entry into said strike, a cam surface on one side of said auxiliary bolt whereby it is retracted by said strike as said closure is shut, said auxiliary bolt being then spring projected into the strike, a cam surface on the other side f said auxiliary bolt whereby it is retracted by said strike as said closure is opened, and means whereby said auxiliary bolt when retracted releases said latch bolt from said holding means.

1l. A latch for a hinged closure comprising a spring pressed latch bolt adapted to interlock with a strike when aligned therewith, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt, holding means for maintaining said latch bolt retracted once it is retracted by said manual means, an auxiliary bolt normally spring pressed for entry into said strike, a cam surface on one side of said auxiliary bolt whereby it is retracted by said strike as said closure is shut, said auxiliary bolt being then spring projected into the strike, a cam surface on the other side of said auxiliary bolt whereby it is retracted by said strike as said closure is opened, means whereby said auxiliary bolt when retracted releases said latch bolt from said holding means, and additional means for holding said latch bolt retracted at all times leaving only said auxiliary bolt free for coaction with said strike.

12. A latch for a hinged closure comprising a spring pressed latch bolt adapted to interlock with a strike when aligned therewith, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt, holding means for maintaining said latch bolt retracted once it is retracted by said manual means, an auxiliary bolt normally spring pressed for entry into said strike, a cam surface on one side of said auxiliary bolt whereby it is retracted by said strike as said closure is shut, said auxiliary bolt being then spring projected into the strike, a cam surface on the other side of said auxiliary bolt whereby it is retracted by said strike as said closure is opened, means whereby said auxiliary bolt when retracted releases said latch bolt from said holding means, limit means for limiting the projection of said latch bolt when said latch bolt is retracted by said manual means and then released, and means whereby said limit means are rendered inoperative when said latch bolt is retracted independently of said manual means as when said latch bolt contacts the strike during closing movement of the closure, so that said latch bolt projectsA an eXtra distance into said strike.

13. A latch for a hinged closure comprising a spring pressed latch bolt adapted to interlock with a strike when aligned therewith, manually operated means for retracting said latch bolt, holding means for maintaining said latch bolt retracted once it is retracted by said manual means, an auxiliary bolt normally spring pressed for entry into said strike, a cam surface on one 5 side of 'said auxiliary bolt wherebyy it is` retracted by, said strike said closure 'is shut, said auxiliary bolt.I being vthen?y spring'projected into the strike, a cam surface onfthe other side of said auxiliary lbolt'wlflerelcry it 'is' retractedpby' said strike asrsaidf closure i'slopenedy"meansl whereby said auxiliary f' bolt lwhen retractedY l releases' said latch bolt from said holding means, limit means for limiting the projection of said latch bolt when said latch bolt is retracted by said manual means and then released, means whereby said limit means are rendered inoperative when said latch bolt is retracted independentlyv of said manual means as when said latch bolt contacts the strike duringclosing movement of the closure, so that said latch bolt projects an extra distance into ysaid strike, and means for deadlocking said latch' bolt when it is projected said extra distance.

14. A night latch for a hinged closure comprising a spring pressed latch bolt carried by the closure adapted to interlock with a strike aperture when aligned therewith, a strike engaging auxiliary bolt yieldingly 'projected relatively to the hinged closure, manual means for retracting the spring pressed latch bolt to allow opening movement of said hinged closure, means operative upon retraction of said spring pressed latch bolt, and while said latch bolt is in alignment with said strike aperture, for maintaining said latch bolt retracted thereafter whereby to allow opening movement of the hinged closurewithout the necessity of holding said manual means until the latch bolt has moved out of alignment with said strike aperture, means whereby during opening of the closure thereafter the `auxiliary bolt is retracted by said strike and out of engagement with said strike, and means whereby said auxiliary bolt releases said spring pressed latch bolt from said rst means for movement into pro- J'ected position, as said auxiliary bolt is so moved relatively to said strike incidental to the opening movement of the hinged closure.

15. A night latch for a hinged closure comprising a spring pressed latch bolt carried by the closure adapted to interlock with a strike aperture when` aligned therewith, a strike entering auxiliary bolt yieldingly projected relatively to the hinged closure and having a camsurface engaging said strike whereby movement of the closure relatively to the strike will cause said strike to retract said auxiliary bolt, manual means for retracting the spring pressed latch bolt to allow opening movement of said hinged closure, means operative upon retraction of said spring pressed latch bolt, and while said latch bolt is in alignment .with said strike, for maintaining said latch bolt retracted thereafter whereby to allow opening movement `of the hinged closure without the necessity of holding said manual means until the latch bolt has moved out of alignment with said strike aperture, andmeans whereby said auxiliary bolt releases said spring pressed latch bolt from said rst means for movement into projected position as saidauxiliary bolt movement of the hingedclosure.

16. A latch for a hinged structure comprising a casing adapted for cooperation with a strike, a spring pressed latch bolt extending from said casing and having a strike contacting cam surface,

to opening tracted` ,tolsadpnedetermined :positomnauxiltion. the:retractonzof;'theflatchrboltiby-theistrike iarybolbfslidable nvsaidzcaslng for releasingsad bengfinsumcenif toxetractthe latch bolt' togsaid latchlmlt` from said, holdngxmeans; saidstrike predetermined; positioni to; permit the holding contactingv-lcamgsurface `off-.thelatnzzldbolt cammeans toiengage thel latch bolt andrei-,ain ity in ming'said latchbolt rearwardlyV when engaging 5 said predetermined position. l

said strike-'and' thereby-1 retracting,- saidlatchv bolt whenV said'lhngedlclosuremovesto-closed posi- FREDERIC K.y HEYER. 

